The government has spent TZS604.6 billion on building 676 new primary schools and 34,464 toilet facilities over the past four years, in a major investment aimed at expanding access to basic education and improving learning conditions.
The investment comes amid efforts to address infrastructure demands in the education sector, where adequate classrooms and sanitation facilities are essential to accommodating growing pupil enrolment and ensuring a conducive learning environment.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG), Dr Festo Dugange, announced the figures on November 10, 2026, during an inspection of the Primary and Basic Education Quality Improvement Project (BOOST) at Isamilo Primary School in Sengerema District, Mwanza Region.
He said the construction programme was part of the Sixth Phase Government’s efforts under President Samia Suluhu Hassan to improve the quality of education by ensuring children learn in schools with adequate infrastructure.
At Isamilo Primary School, the government has invested approximately TZS541 million in the construction of more than 14 classrooms, which currently accommodate 1,336 pupils.
Dr Dugange said the facilities had improved the school's learning environment, allowing pupils to study in better conditions.
“Our 1,336 children are studying in a good and modern primary school. The government cares about our children by building quality schools and ensuring they study in a conducive environment,” he said.
Beyond the construction of new schools, Dr Dugange said the government had invested more than TZS1.15 trillion through the BOOST project, resulting in the construction of over 16,000 classrooms to improve access to pre-primary and primary education.
He said the investment was intended to strengthen the delivery of basic education services while ensuring pupils and teachers had the infrastructure needed for effective teaching and learning.
The government has pledged to continue investing in education infrastructure, with Dr Dugange stressing that improved facilities were necessary to create better learning conditions and enable teachers to perform their responsibilities effectively.
However, the scale of the investment also puts emphasis on the need to ensure that newly constructed facilities are properly maintained and adequately staffed so that the expansion of infrastructure translates into improved learning outcomes.